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Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro has assured parents, learners and other education stakeholders that the government has not abandoned the school feeding programme.

Nyoro who doubles up as the National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriation Committee maintained the programme has been pre-allocated.

Speaking at a local TV station on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, the lawmaker asserted that the school feeding program which has a Ksh4 billion allocation will be managed by another State Department during the 2024/25 Financial Year.

Defending the re-allocation

The Kiharu MP explained the management of the school feeding program was previously domiciled under the National Council for Nomadic Education in Kenya (NACONEK).

“Education seems to have lost but if you look at the school feeding programme you’ll realise that there is a re-allocation.

“Previously, the school feeding programme has been under NACONEK. The ministry is reallocating the same for the department to handle the roles and therefore I want to assure the people that this will continue,” Nyoro stated during the interview.

Defending the new move, Nyoro reiterated that it was part of President William Ruto’s administration plan to streamline the operations. While building a strong case for the re-allocation of the schools’ fund feeding program, he pointed out that a similar move is being implemented in the Regional Development Authorities (RDAs).

“The school feeding programme is there. For example, you find many things in the budget around Regional Development Authorities, that are not allocated budgets because the roles are changing,” Nyoro insisted.

“This is not the first time; It’s happening across the ASAL ministry where if you check the budget of Ewaso Nyiro North and South, Coast development, TARDA, and all agencies that deal with regional development they have also been changed to different areas. It is a normal thing and I assure you that the school feeding programme is there.”

His sentiments come amidst concerns from some education stakeholders over the scrapping of the school feeding programme. 26 counties were already benefiting from the programme which was touted to help increase school attendance, especially in marginalized areas.

However, Nyoro has allayed fears that it will be scrapped in the next financial year.

Sakaja’s stance

In Nairobi, Governor Johnson Sakaja announced that the implementation of the school feeding programme will continue.

“Nairobi parents and children should not worry. Dishi na County school feeding Program remains on,” Governor Sakaja announced.

“200,000 children are now enlisted and will continue to eat daily,” he further affirmed.

Additionally, Sakaja confirmed that his administration is at an advanced stage of constructing an additional seven kitchens spread across seven constituencies to cover the remaining regions within the city.

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